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2021 Mazda Cx-90
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
34 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 11, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (50% of complaints, typically reported near 4k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Mazda Cx-90, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
50%17 complaints · typically near 4k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“Consumes over 2 quarts of oil between recommended oil changes. The dealer made excuses about needing to use a different oil but it has not improved the problem. The wa…”
Brakes
12%4 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The driver side airbag did not deploy in a front end collision on the drivers side. When approaching a vehicle that had come to a sudden and complete stop, the brakes …”
Driver assistance
9%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“6/29/2023--Vehicle stopped suddenly with i-ACTIVESENSE system malfunction, Dynamic Stability Control malfunction, Engine malfunction, engine output reduced, Front rada…”
Backup camera & sensors
6%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Backup camera shows three to four feet before red collision line is not accurate causing severe damage to my garage door.”
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Seats · 21V750000
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Risk: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5221I.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Mazda CX-90 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Cx-90 model year scores →
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What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.